Background:

Walking ability is a key factor in enhanced recovery after foot ambulatory surgery. Plantar compartment block offers an analgesic alternative to popliteal sciatic nerve block (PSNB) for hallux valgus surgery. The objective of this study was to compare these two regional anesthesia strategies on patients’ ability to recover a painless unaided walk.

Methods:

This prospective double-blinded (patient; observing anesthesiologist) randomized study compared patients scheduled for hallux valgus surgery receiving PSNB with 1% mepivacaine, then combined plantar and peroneal nerve blocks (PCB group) with ropivacaine 0.5% and dexamethasone, or PSNB with ropivacaine 0.5% and dexamethasone (control group). The primary outcome was the patient’s ability to walk unaided 6 h after PSNB. The test was performed on a GAITRite® spatio-temporal gait analysis mat. During three days, the number of patient steps, pain levels, rescue analgesics, patient’s experience and adverse events were assessed.

Results:

Sixty patients were included and 59 were analyzed. The number of patients walking unaided on the GAITRite® mat was significantly higher in the PCB group (21/30, 70%) than in the control group (4/29, 13.8%; p<0.001). Gait quality using the Functional Ambulation Profile score was 63±13.6 in the PCB group and 49.5±4.7 in the control group (p<0.001). Median time to free ambulation at home was significantly lower in the PCB group (9 h [8.2–11.8]) than in the control group (33.5 h [24–47]; p<0.001). Postoperative pain did not differ between the groups (β=−0.41 [−1.78 to 0.95]; p=0.548). The number of steps at day 3, the time of first rescue analgesic, the number of patients using rescue analgesia, consumption of morphine, and patient’s experience did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion:

PCB decreased the time to return to unaided walking, with improved gait, compared with PSNB, improving effective analgesia and low consumption of rescue analgesics. This innovative regional anesthesia strategy enhanced recovery after surgery